Joseph james speed



(No Medel.) 2 sheets-sheet 1-,

J. J. SPEED.

FIRE ARM-,

No. 372,182. Patented Oct. 25, 1887.

Wi nesses: I Lvenfor;

V UNITE STATES PATENT EEicE.

JOSEPH JAMEs SPEED, OF WALTHAM onoss', ENGLAND.

FIRE -AR M.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 372,182, dated October25, 1887. Application filed July 21, 1887. Serial No. 244,880. Nomodel.) Patented in England April 30,1887, No. 6,835. I

have applied for provisional protection in Great Britain, No. 6,335,dated April 30, 1887,)

of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings.

M yinvention relates to magazine or repeating fire-arms; and its objectis to provide improved means for. enabling a magazinerifle to be used asa singleloader, while a supply of cartridges is kept in reserve in themagazine. For this purpose I employ a catch which is pivoted to the shoeor body of the gun in a slot formed therein, so that the said catch maybe turned into such a position that it will hold down the cartridges inthe magazine, and thus prevent the feeding of the uppermost cartridgetherefrom by the breech-bolt in its forward movement.

- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan,.and Fig. 2 a sideelevation, of part of a Lee magazinerifle with my improved catch appliedthereto, showing the said catch in position for holding down thecartridges in the magazine. Fig. 3.is a transverse section on the linea; m, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in vertical centralsection, showing the cartridges in the position which they assume whenthe said catch is withdrawn.

A isthe shoe or body of the gun; B, the barrel; O, the stock; D, themagazine, and G the breech-bolt.

E is the catch, which is pivoted at e to the body A and works in a slot,a, therein. 'A spring-retaining pawl, F, is attached to the body A andhas at its free'end a stud or projection, f, adapted to enter either ofthe holes 6 e in the under side of the catch E, for the purpose ofretaining the said catch at either extremity of its movement. The catchE is formed or provided with a projection, e, whereby it may be moved inor out by the thumb or finger. The under side of the said catch isinclined, as shown in Fig. 3, so that when it is pushed inward andcomesinto contact withthe uppermost cartridge in the magazine it willdepress the said cartridge clear of I provide the magazine with aspring,D', which, when the cartridges are inserted, will cartridgesupward.

The catch E is shown in full lines in Fig. l in the position which itoccupies when pushed inward. In this position it holds down thecartridges in the magazine, and thus prevents loader. The said catch,moreover, projecting over the uppermost cartridge in the magazine,indicates to the soldier that the magazine is closed, or out of action.

When it is desired to use the cartridges stored in the magazine, it isonly necessary to pull the catch E outward into the position indicatedby dotted lines in Fig. 1. The magazine-spring D will then push thecartridges (upward into the position shown in Fig. 4, so that thebreech-bolt, when moved forward, will thrust the uppermost cartridgeinto the chamber. The ride can therefore be used either as a singleloader or a repeater at-will.

Any other suitable spring may be used in the magazine D. Moreover, thedetails of construction of the pivoted catch and its springretainingpawl may be somewhat modified, if desired, without departing from thenature of my said invention.

What I claim is-- 1. The combination, with a magazine firearm, of acatch pivoted to the shoe or body A and working in a horizontal slot insaid shoe or body of the gun, whereby it may be moved into position tohold the cartridges down in the magazine, and the arm can be used as asingle-loader, or it may be withdrawn from such position and the armused as a repeater, as specified.

2. The combination, with a magazine firearm, of the catch E, pivoted atc to the shoe the breech-bolt G.

be compressed, and will then reactto push the the feeding thereof intothe chamber of the gun by the breech-bolt in its forward movement,'sothat the rifle can be used as a single-- 01" body A and working in ahorizontal slot, In testimonywhereofl have hereunto signed IO a, in saidshoe or body, substantially as de* my name in the presence of twosubscribing scribed. witnesses.

3. The combination, with a magazine fire- 5 arm, of the pivoted catch E,pivoted to the JOS. JAMES SPEED.

shoe or body, as shown, and formed with holes e2 6 and the spring F,provided with stud or Witnesses: projection f, adapted to enter saidholes and W. R. LOWMAN, hold the catch in place, as set forth. A.STANLEY.

